Metal Gear Solid 4 radio conversations

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Metal Gear Solid 4 radio conversations

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This article is a list of optional Codec conversations in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, some of which are humorous, or contain additional information that is not revealed during normal gameplay.

Contents

Middle East

OctoCamo

Otacon:OctoCamo is a newly developed camouflage technology that's capable of almost exactly mimicking the appearance of objects and surfaces. Its easy to use, too. All you have to do is press against a wall or object, or lie flat on the ground, while wearing the suit. It can be a powerful tool if you use it right. So tell me, how does it feel?

Snake: Not as itchy as I'd have thought.

Otacon: That suit can mimic the color, pattern, and even the surface texture of walls and floors. Kind of like procuring your own camo on sight, right?

Snake: I do just fine with the regular stuff. I'm not a chameleon.

Otacon: You've got it all wrong. We're not talking about lizards. This is OctoCamo. In other words, it's based on the camouflage capabilities of the octopus. Octopus are sometimes called the ninjas of the sea. They fool their enemies by mimicking not just the color of their surroundings, but also the shape of the terrain. That suit takes its cue from defensive deception found in nature. Besides, you may not have known this, but there's a snake that can change its body color, too. It's called the Kapuas mud snake. It's a poisonous reptile indigenous to the Kapuas River on the island of Borneo. Its coloring is normally a reddish-brown, but sometimes turns to white. So, snakes can sport disguises, too.

Snake: Hey, what happened to stealth camo? You used to wear it all the time.

Otacon: All that does is create an optical illusion. It's no use against Gekko with their infrared sensors. OctoCamo, on the other hand, has micro peliter arrays that regulate the absorption and release of heat, harmonizing the wearer's body heat with any background IR radiation. Which means it can offer you at least some camouflage protection against enemy infrared sensors. With so many unmanned weapons these days, I'd expect it to outperform the old stealth camo. But if you start walking or running - or making a lot of noise - you'll risk getting spotted by the enemy. And get this - the suit also reduces the weight load on your body and amplifies muscle power. The inside lining sends a weak electric current through your body that stimulates phospholipid production inside your cells, improving circulation. That should make your LIFE Gauge (recover) more rapidly when you're hurt. In other words, Snake, it's a bit of a crutch...

Snake: You can cut the senior citizen crap, Otacon.

Cheap ammunition

Otacon: Snake, you know how that first gun you found stopped working? Well, from what I can tell, it looks like the problem was with the ammo.

Snake: The ammo?

Otacon: I'm betting it's because they were using cheap, local ammunition. The ammo probably triggered abnormal combustion, which excessively raised the pressure and caused the cartridges to stick in the chamber. It's a pretty rare phenomenon - I guess you got lucky.

Snake: More like unlucky.

Otacon: Look on the bright side - it means that there weren't any problems with the gun itself! I don't think it will happen again.

Abusing the Mk. II

Otacon's lines, with the exception of his final line, aren't actually transcribed in text, being transcribed as ".....", but they can be heard under his breath.

Otacon: (ugh... I can't believe you're so abusive of the Mk. II...)

Snake: Otacon...?

Otacon: (all the time I've put into this technology... agh...)

Snake: Otacon? Are you...angry?

Otacon: (would you just... it's like... just nothing about anyone but yourself... thats the only thing you think about...)

Snake: (sigh) Look, I'm sorry. I promise I'll be more careful with how I use the thing.

Otacon: Yeah, well, you better.

Gekko

Snake: Otacon, those two-legged machines... They're not like the Metal Gears I'm used to dealing with.

Otacon: Right. Strictly speaking, though, they're not Metal Gears.

Snake: What are you talking about?

Otacon: The Gears you've fought before were all basically designed and produced to serve as nuclear platforms. RAY was an exception to the rule, but even that was an anti-Metal Gear weapon designed to defeat all of the Metal Gear clones popping all over the world. Its value was still measured in terms of the framework of nuclear strategy. Its been 25 years since the end of the Cold War. We live in a world of regional conflict and asymmetric warfare - and it's getting worse every year. The age of the war economy is upon us. The value of Metal Gear as a weapon - the very concept itself - has changed with the times. You might even say it's evolved. Nowadays, a Metal Gear needs to be more than a nuclear attack platform. It needs to be adaptable, well-suited to fight in large numbers, traverse urban settings, and work alongside infantry. The Gekko were the answer. There are different types of Gekko designed for different missions, and not all of them are equipped with nuclear capabilities. So technically, they're not Metal Gears. Of course, there are still some of the old Metal Gears around - their primary job is to launch nuclear strikes. But these days, Gekko are the first name in bipedal war machines. They may have gotten smaller, but they're as ferocious as ever. Whatever you do, don't underestimate them.

Snake: Don't worry... I wasn't planning on it.

Praying Mantis Corporation

Otacon: I've got some intel on the PMCs deployed in that area. They're a part of Praying Mantis Corporation, based out of the United Kingdom. It's one of the five largest PMCs in the world. Its business activity includes soldiers for hire, supply and logistics services, education and training for state armies... Everything you'd expect. During the Iraq War, Praying Mantis contracted with the US government to send large numbers of its soldiers into combat zones... Which is why the local regime opted to hire Praying Mantis, a UK-based company, and not their regular army to fight the rebels for them. They were buying their experience.

ID guns

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after picking up a locked ID gun.

Otacon: Snake, the PMC soldiers are using ID guns.

Snake: ID guns?

Otacon: See how the word LOCKED appears in the Weapon List?

Snake: Yeah.

Otacon: ID guns are equipped with locks. As long as the lock is engaged, you can't pull the trigger.

Snake: Any suggestions?

Otacon: The locks are only disengaged when they recognize the nanomachine ID inside a soldier's body. Anyone not possessing nanomachines keyed to the System, or anyone who is keyed but not authorized to use that weapon, won't be able to pass the ID gun's verification process.

Snake: So I can't use PMC guns.

Otacon: I'm afraid not. You're not registered with the System. And it's not just weapons either. Vehicles, buildings - everything used for military purposes is secured with this ID control system. Without the proper IDs, it's impossible for PMCs or state armies to fight. Think of it as a soldier's dog tag, only at the nano level.

Snake: So I shouldn't even bother picking up ID guns.

Otacon: For now, at least. But they might come in handy later on.

Trash cans

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon while Snake is hiding in a trash can. If Snake spoke with Otacon previously on the subject, the first few lines of dialogue will be different.

If Otacon was not spoken to previously...

Otacon: Snake, where are you now?

Snake: Trash can.

Otacon: A trash can?

If Otacon has already spoken of utilizing trash cans...

Otacon: How did it go, did you manage to hide?

Snake: Yeah, I did like you said.

Snake:(ugh) Looks like this is where they dump their household trash.

Otacon:(huh) How can you tell?

Snake: Cause it stinks in here... Bad. Leftovers from last night's dinner, probably.

Otacon:(eeugh!) Leftovers...

Snake: And theres some bugs crawling around on my face.

Otacon:(eeewwwgh!)

Snake: It feels like roaches. There's a whole bunch of them scurrying around.

Otacon:(ohhgh! cough! gag!) Make sure you get the smell of them off you before coming back here!

Snake: Yep, I'll see what I can do.

Otacon:(ugh!) Seriously, doesn't it make you sick?

Snake: I'd crawl into a toilet if it kept me out of sight. (uhhgh) Something crawling up my leg...

Otacon:(yaaugghh!) I can't even imagine! (eww!) You know, you might want to get out of there as soon as the coast is clear.

Snake: Yeah, not the best place for a nap.

Otacon: No kidding.

Battlefield ads

Snake: Otacon, seriously, what's with all these ads?

Otacon: Oh, you mean battlefield ads.

Snake: Battlefield ads? Is that what they're called...

Otacon: On the street, anyway. It's what people are calling any ad having to do with the war economy. Privatizing the military has inevitably created intense competition for market share among the PMCs and defense industries. Everybody wants to expand their market - get a bigger piece of the pie. So they're churning out truckloads of ads, exactly like the ones we see everyday.

Snake: But war is not something you can just write off.

Otacon: It may seem that way, but the war economy is an enormous driving force in the world today. There are people whose livelihoods depend on those ads. Same goes for internet ads, TV commercials...

Snake: The world's gone mad, and us with it.

Otacon: I know. But that's reality.

Metal Gear Mk.II

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the rendezvous with Metal Gear Mk.II in the Red Zone.

Otacon: I created the Mk.II to provide you with mission support. It's outfitted with a full suite of support functions. It can transport weapons and items, assess your condition, conduct recon, provide map data, and analyze the state of battle.

Snake: Tell me something, Otacon. What possessed you to name it Metal Gear Mk.II?

Otacon: I named it that so I'd never forget that I was the one who designed REX. But the Mk.II's no weapon of destruction. It's a remote mobile terminal designed solely to support you. I want to show the world that technology can work wonders when it's used the right way. I'll bet that 50 years from now robot buddies like the Mk.II will be a vital part of our society. Even now, 30% of all snipers use robot spotters. I don't think it's quite what Asimov imagined, but we may already be living in the Caves of Steel.

Metal Gear Mk. II wireless link

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the rendezvous with Metal Gear Mk.II in the Red Zone.

Otacon: During manual control, the Mk.II maintains a wireless link with you. But the control's signal range is deliberately kept short by an attenuator on the transmitter circuit. The distance varies by environment, so I can't give you an exact figure, but even under the best of conditions it can't exceed 50 meters.

Snake: 50 meters... That's pretty short. Why impose a limit like that? Seems more useful if I could control it from farther away.

Otacon: Of course, I need plenty of signal when I control it. But in your case... You have to be conscious of the danger from DF. You can't risk using a high-power electrical signal for too long. It's like holding up a big sign saying, "Hey, I'm over here!" So try and keep the Mk.II close to you when you use it. Keep that in mind, and the Mk.II should serve you well.

Metal Gear Mk.II stealth capability

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the rendezvous with Metal Gear Mk.II in the Red Zone.

Snake: Otacon, you gave the Mk.II stealth capability?

Otacon: Yeah. The Mk.II doesn't have to worry about damage from EM waves because it's a machine, and its surface area is small enough that cost isn't a problem. But (the) tradeoff being that it can be easily spotted by heat-seeking unmanned weapons. Keep that in mind, OK?

iPod

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the rendezvous with Metal Gear Mk.II in the Red Zone while equipped with the iPod.

Otacon: How you linking that iPod, Snake? They say certain types of music can help relieve stress... If you're feeling run down, why not take a break? Listen to a few tunes...?

Solid Eye

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the rendezvous with Metal Gear Mk.II in the Red Zone.

Otacon: Snake, the device you're wearing over your left eye is the Solid Eye.

Snake: 3D glasses, huh? I remember having this toy pair called Tobidacid back when I was a kid...

Otacon: Tobidacid? Umm... OK. Never heard of it.
The Solid Eye is a multi-purpose goggle equipped with a variety of functions.
It has the same night vision capabilities as ENVGs, as wall as a monocular function. It can also display a wide range of data as called for by the situation at hand.
It's capable of using visual cues to pull up target data on any soldiers and weapons within its field of vision.
Say, for instance, the target is a soldier. The Solid Eye will display the soldier's physical and emotional state based on body temperature, heart rate, and even sweat secretion.
You can toggle the Solid Eye's functions in the Item window.

Radar

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the rendezvous with Metal Gear Mk.II in the Red Zone.

Otacon: I designed your radar exactly to your specifications, Snake. The baseline map, shown in the upper right of the screen, shows a visual representation of what your senses tell you, including sense you're not even conscious of. It compiles and amplifies data on surrounding temperature, humidity, sounds and smells. Think of it as a digital expression of the "feel" in your environment.

Snake: The "feel"? You mean my close-range senses?

Otacon: That's one way of putting it, yeah. The stronger a "feel" is, the more vividly it shows up on the radar. But if you're somewhere with a high baseline - in the middle of a combat zone, say, or a panicking crowd - it's tougher to pick up that "feel." Granted, you tend to stick out more when it's quiet around you, and it's easier to slip by unnoticed in a commotion. But it also makes you less alert to threats. Living organisms such as soldiers and moving objects like unmanned weapons give off strong "feels," so they'll show up clearly on your radar. The radar also displays the strength of the ripples you yourself send out to others. The more you stick out, the bigger and brighter your radar presence will be. On the other hand, keeping quiet, staying stll, and using OctoCamo to blend in with the environment make your radar presence smaller... Indicating that you're less likely to be detected by the enemy.

Building collapse

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after the PMC Sliders destroy the building in the Red Zone.

Otacon: Those guys really know how to put on a show. I'm sure it was old and decrepit already, but I've never seen a building go down like that.

Small-scale local PMC

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon during or after the battle between the militias and the PMCs in the Red Zone.

Otacon: The militias fighting against Praying Mantis are mercenaries belonging to a small-scale local PMC. Most of them are from around here, but it was more than ethnic ties that motivated them to pick up their guns. The country suffers from chronic high unemployment. There are a lot of households just barely scraping by. Kids that grow up in that environment don't have the chance to get a decent education, and there aren't enough opportunities for them to go abroad and find work, either. PMCs are one of the few options they have to earn a living.

Snake: And for that they go out and risk their necks.

Otacon: It's not a respectable trade by any measure. Still, for some reason I can't bring myself to condemn them for it. It's complicated, you know?

The political situation

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon during or after the battle between the militias and the PMCs in the Red Zone.

Otacon: During the Cold War, this region was the site of irregular proxy wars fought between the two superpowers. Now that it's over, the ethnic conflicts that were simmering beneath the surface have erupted into full-scale civil wars. Even today, the political situation is fragile. The land and its people have been ravaged and exhausted by years of constant warfare. With food scarce, and the economy near collapse, the country's barely being kept afloat by aid from developed nations. And despite all that, the current regime is still hiring PMCs to put down the anti-government militias, or "terrorists" as they call them. I know security is a big issue, but come on!

Snake: If you've got the money to buy bullets, you should be using it to buy your people bread.

Otacon: That's how a lot of people would put it, yes.

Snake: Makes sense to me.

Special-forces unit

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after listening to the discussion between a militiaman and operator, near the recovered Slider wing in the Militia Safehouse.

Otacon: Some kind of mercenaries hired by the PMCs?
Anyway, if you do run into those guys, don't get caught off guard.
And Snake, remember that guy said one of them has UCAVs under his control...

Snake: Right. One of his men picked up some pieces. That must be what they had in front of them - looked the same as the one that bombed that building.

Otacon: They may be small, but they bite. Hard.
You'd better be extra careful they don't see you.

Foreshadowing of Drebin

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after listening to the discussion between two militiamen in the Militia Safehouse.

Snake: Removing a lock on a gun...? Otacon, can they really do that?

Otacon: Sorry... Don't know the specifics. Give me some time. I'll see what I can dig up.

Snake: Let me know if you find anything.

Otacon: Will do.

Militia Disguise

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after finding the Militia disguise in the Militia safehouse

Otacon: I see you've found yourself an operator uniform. As long as you're wearing it, you can do what you need to do and the militiamen won't suspect a thing. It'll be a useful tool in certain situations. But be careful - hurt a fellow militiaman while wearing the uniform, and you'll blow your cover. Got it?

Drum can

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after finding the Drum Can in Downtown.

Otacon: Snake, is that...a drum? And what, pray tell do you intend to do with it? It's bigger than you are!

Snake: That's the point, Otacon. It has to be at least this size. How else am I going to fit?

Otacon: Fit...? Oh, I got it!

Snake: If the enemy is after me, I can hide inside until they're gone. And, unlike a cardboard box, in a pinch, I can roll into a quick getaway.

Otacon: Say... that does sound pretty good. To hide inside a drum, simply equip it as an item. To roll, press the Crawl Button to lie down on your side, then move as you normally would. Nice find, Snake. No wonder they call you a professional procurer-on-site.

Akiba's bomb

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon when approaching the bomb before meeting Meryl in Advent Palace.

Otacon: Snake, I'm picking up a weak radio signal emitting from the infrared sensors placed throughout the building. My guess is they're set up so that whoever planted them - our informants, in other words - can monitor their operating status in real time. I strongly advise leaving those traps alone.

Meryl's team

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon before jumping down the elevator shaft in Advent Palace.

Otacon: Snake, are you watching Meryl's team?

Snake: Yeah, they're incredible. The best of the best in Special Forces are pretty deadly, but Meryl's team is even better than that. They're like a well-oiled machine.

Otacon: Sons of the Patriots... What a system.

Snake: I'll tell you one thing - I'm glad they're on our side.

Otacon: Then you'd better not make Meryl mad, for all our sakes.

Snake: No kidding.

Otacon: You gonna be all right? I mean, you two do have a history...

Snake: .....

Meryl & FOXHOUND

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after escaping the FROGS' assault in Advent Palace.

Snake: Never felt right using the technique learned from a man who'd betray his unit. Thinking back, CQC as a concept was (way) ahead of its time. No one was using it yet - not the Green Berets or the SEALS or the CIA Paramilitaries...

Otacon: And then earlier this year the Pentagon declassifies Big Boss's file for some reason. All of a sudden his story is the stuff of pop culture - books, magazines, the net. And now people are taking another look at CQC.

Snake: The war criminal, reinvented as a hero.

Otacon: Big Boss's exploits as a Cold War secret agent back in the 60's have made him a legend.

Snake: The less people know about the truth, the more they can fantasize.

Otacon: Is that the reason why you decided to CQC? Because it is no longer just his, anymore?

Snake: The CQC soldiers are using nowadays is a pale imitation. They're learning from reading about it. I learned from doing, and there's a world of difference.

Otacon: Then you want to teach them the real thing, the way you learned from your fath-- I mean Big Boss.

Snake: That's not it, either. Some things aren't meant to be passed on to future generations. When some guy comes at me using that cookie cutter imitation of CQC, my body just reacts naturally. That's all.

Otacon: Ah, I get it. An eye for an eye. Well, maybe not quite. I reckon they'd lose more than an eye when going up against you.

Militias' and PMCs' differences

Otacon: Snake, there are more differences between the militias and the PMCs than you may think. For one thing, the PMCs are flush with cash, so they usually have the latest gear.

Otacon: On top of that, they're running on the SOP System, which keeps them in constant contact with each other during battle. The militias, on the other hand, are little more than amateurs. Most haven't even had basic combat training. And their equipment is nothing to brag about either - they're just barely scraping by.

Snake: Their weapons don't seem to be controlled by the System. The ones I've picked up work for me just fine.

Otacon: Right. But the PMCs' weapons won't. You can steal their guns, but they'll most likely be locked and unusable. Remember that.

Van der Waals force

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after escaping the FROGS' assault in Advent Palace.

Otacon: Snake, these enhanced soldiers seem to be using some sort of device to climb to the walls.

Snake: Doesn't look like they have spikes or suction cups.

Otacon: This is only a guess but I think their gloves and boots might have some mechanism that employs van der Waals force.

Snake: Uh huh...

Otacon: It's a type of mutual interaction that occurs between two electrically neutral particles. Geckos use it to crawl up walls and across ceilings.

Snake: That kind of Gecko... But those things are a hell of a lot lighter than a human.

Otacon: Well, I read about an experiment about 10 years ago where they reportedly suspended an object weighing 100 grams using a 50-millimeter square piece of adhesive tape. Assuming the technology's advanced since then, I don't see why these guys couldn't be climbing all over the walls.

Snake: Otacon, what about Vamp? How he ran up that support pillar in the Big Shell? You think that's how he did it?

Otacon: You mean did he have the technology? He could have, yeah.

Snake: So it wasn't that he had some freak, supernatural powers.

Otacon: Hey, when technology starts to test the limits of our imagination, what's the difference?

Militia operators

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after escaping the FROGS' assault in Advent Palace.

Otacon: Snake, remember how I told you the militias were basically amateurs?

Snake: Yeah. From what I've seen, though, they're holding their own. Not quite ready to lie down and give up, at least.

Otacon: Right. The militias have hired operators working for them - You're disguised as one now. They make for pretty good commanders in battle.

Snake:(grunt)

Otacon: Maybe you haven't noticed because you're not actually working as one, but those operators are all over the place shouting out orders and giving signals. The militias' ability to organize themselves in battle largely depends on their presence. Heaven forbid one of those operators gets taken out. The chain of command would dissolve, along with any real combat effectiveness.

PMC relationships

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after escaping the FROGS' assault in Advent Palace.

Otacon: Snake, I've been doing some research.

Snake: No...

Otacon:(sigh) Look, those militias are generally made up of volunteers. But they're not just homegrown civvies who've been handed guns and told to fight. It looks like there's a locally based PMC - a small one, but it's there. So the militiamen you're seeing are most likely mercenaries hired by that PMC.

Snake:(hmph) So you've got PMCs, led by PMCs, fighting PMCs... A real showcase for the war economy.

Otacon: This is the world we live in, Snake. It's kind of sad, isn't it?

Militias' tank

Snake: Otacon, looks like the militias have got themselves an armored tank.

Otacon: Yep, a BMP3. It's an old Soviet-designed IFV. It's not quite up to MBT defensive standards, but it's got enough armor to protect it against medium-caliber machine gun rounds. The militias could use it as a barricade against PMC gunfire. Use it to your advantage to help you proceed without having to face the PMCs.

Destruction of Militias' tank

Otacon: Looks like they just took out a BMP3.

Snake: It was one of those PMC tankbusters. Nice piece of work.

Otacon: I'll say. But now there's one less shield for you to use. Watch out for stray bullets. The enemy's not too discriminating.

Snake: They're not getting me on a cheap kill. I'll watch my back.

Aftermath of B&B massacre

Otacon: Those things just wiped the floor with the militiamen...

Snake: Must be the special unit that wounded militiaman was talking about.

Otacon: And now the wreckage is blocking the way. Snake, head straight for Liquid's camp.

Redecorating

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon upon encountering the Gekko-loaded trucks in Millennium Park.

Otacon: Are those Gekko on that truck? I always pictured Gekko as being these big, hulking things. But I guess they can fold up pretty small, too. Imagine that. I'll bet I could fit one through my front door if I tried... What do you think?

Snake: Thinking about redecorating?

Otacon: Come on, you don't think I'm that weird. Do you?

South America

Low psyche

To get these conversations, call Rosemary when your Psyche meter runs low.

Rosemary: Hi, this is Rose.

Snake: I need an update on my Psyche.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it. Rose, I'm feeling a little run down.

Rosemary: I can tell. I think your gear might be a little too heavy. What do you think?

Snake: Yeah, could be. Is that's what got my Psyche down?

Rosemary: Most likely. Why not try unequipping anything you're not using right at the moment?

Rosemary: Rose here. How's it going?

Snake: Super.

Rosemary: You'll be putting yourself at risk if you lose any more Psyche. Take any steps necessary to recover it.

Snake: Will do.

Rosemary: Snake, are you OK? Your Psyche's looking awfully low there.

Snake: Yeah. I can't seem to get out of this slump.

Rosemary: You should find a nice, safe place to rest and replenish your Psyche. It may help to equip some Muna, too, if you have any.

Snake: Muna...?

Rosemary: It'll help you to relax, and should help your Psyche Gauge recover faster.

Rosemary: Snake, what makes you tense? Stressors, the factors that cause stress, can be divided into several types. They can be psychological, social, biological, chemical, or physical. In battlefield terms, that corresponds to the presence of enemies, the battlefield environment, biological and chemical weapons, and physical wounds and hunger caused by combat. Any of these factors can cause stress to build up. So you need to pay attention not only to your health but also to your Psyche, especially when engaged in combat.

Rosemary: Stress is an adaptive response your body takes to protect itself when confronted by a threat. It happens to everybody. There are no exceptions. Everybody gets stressed sometimes. Fear, anxiety, and worry are examples of psychological stress responses. Some people might not admit they have these negative feelings inside, but being aware of your own stress is essential to keeping it under control. You can't fight an enemy you know nothing about, right? The same is true of stress. To recover your Psyche, you need to know where your stress is coming from. Give me a call whenever you feel it getting low.

Rosemary: In order to effectively manage your stress, you first need to assess it. Think about what happens to people when they get tense... Some people feel more tired than usual. Others experience stronger emotions, or experience incoherent behavior, or become dependent on things like alcohol or tobacco.

Snake:(Hmmm...) Tobacco, huh?

Rosemary: Some experience insomnia, depression, or have trouble concentrating. Others find themselves feeling apathetic - mentally drained. Everyone has their own way of reacting to stress. The important thing is to get a feel on what effect stress has on you. Pay attention to your Psyche Gauge to learn what sort of situation causes it to go down.

Rosemary: Rose here. How's it going?

Snake: Super.

Rosemary: You'll be putting yourself at risk if you lose any more Psyche. Take any steps necessary to recover it.

Snake: Will do.

Rosemary: One method of managing stress is to take the more obvious routes. Over eating, drinking alcohol, smoking, complaining or acting irritable, relying on sleeping pills... These are only short-term fixes, and may lead to addiction or other serious problems. In your case, Snake, smoking seems to help recover your Psyche. But it's not a good idea to become dependent. I'd advise you to watch your intake.

Rosemary: This is Rose. How can I help?

Snake: I need a Psyche check.

Rosemary: You'll be putting yourself at risk if you lose any more Psyche. Take any steps necessary to recover it.

Snake: Will do.

Rosemary: One method of stress management is to get your mind off the problem for a while. Watch TV or a movie. Look at paintings or pretty scenery. Get some rest, take a break. Keep yourself busy with a hobby... All these things work well, but bear in mind they're really nothing more than emergency stopgap measures. There's still the matter of getting to the root of the problem.

Snake: I don't see any TVs around here. And the scenery...? (groans)

Rosemary:(chuckles) Well how about paintings or sculptures? Or listening to music - that works, too. Or sometimes it helps if you stand by a river or a pond. Look around for a place or sight that might help you recover your Psyche.

Rosemary: Yes, Snake?

Snake: Just here for my check-up.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: The best methods for managing stress are comprehensive methods. Getting a healthy amount of exercise, meditating, letting yourself relax mentally and physically... Not focusing on negative thoughts... Counseling from a trusted professional... These approaches target both your body and your mind. But I know they aren't exactly convenient for someone in the middle of battle. So Snake, try one of the easier techniques instead. To keep your stress levels under control, use whatever method is available to you at the time. That'll help you maintain a high level of Psyche. I'm not sure if you consider me a trusted professional, but I am here if you ever need to talk. I might even be able to help!

Rosemary: Ever since the Iraq War, the US military has deployed CSPs to the battlefield to counteract PTSD among soldiers. CSP stands for "combat stress platoon" - they're there to care for soldiers' mental health. Each CSP, including mine, is comprised of a doctor, two psychologists, and three counselors. Nowadays, though, most cases are dealt with internally by nanomachines - the SOP system. I can't help but feel there are serious ethical issues with manipulating people's senses like that. Though I must admit, the System has led to a dramatic drop in the number of soldiers exhibiting symptoms of shell shock.

Rosemary: Need something?

Snake: What's up, doc?

Rosemary: You've lost a large amount of Psyche. You'd better take care of that right away.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: The primary mission of CSPs like mine is to provide care for soldiers suffering from combat stress.

Snake: Sounds like a good gig.

Rosemary: The symptoms were first identified during the American Civil War. During World War I they called it shell shock. Today it's known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Snake: You mean combat fatigue.

Rosemary: Right. That's how soldiers have referred to it. Unlike external wounds, psychological damage is not readily visible, making it that much harder to detect. The only way to diagnose it is to look at the victim's stress level and determine whether or not he's able to effectively engage in battle.

Rosemary: Yes, Snake?

Snake: Just here for my check-up.

Rosemary: You'll be putting yourself at risk if you lose any more Psyche. Take any steps necessary to recover it.

Snake: Will do.

Rosemary: In some cases, soldiers display symptoms of PTSD immediately after undergoing a traumatic experience. When these symptoms persist for more than two days, it's referred to as ASD, or acute stress disorder. When they last for more than a month, it's called PTSD. Left untreated, ASD can develop into PTSD so it needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible. If something stressful happens to you, let me know right away.

Rosemary: When a soldier is suffering from combat stress, it's extremely important that we respond quickly and effectively. Today we use the term "4R and PIES" to describe this action. The "4R" in "4R and PIES" stands for four words that describe the response. Reassurance - getting the soldier to feel at ease. For example, we might get his commanding officer or supervisor to tell him he's OK. Rest - letting the soldier cool down mentally and physically. Replenishment - having the soldier recharge his batteries by eating and sleeping. And restoration - having the soldier talk about his feelings and getting him to calm down. The four Rs represent the core thinking behind dealing with soldiers who suffer from stress. The "PIES" in "4R and PIES" can be thought of as the principles that guide the execution of the 4R's. Proximity - staying close to the soldier. Immediacy - Acting quickly. Expectancy - giving the soldier hope that he'll get better. And simplicity - taking care of him in a clear and uncomplicated manner. Take the first letter of each principle and you get the word "PIES." Snake, you can apply these principles yourself when managing your own stress. When your Psyche runs low, act quickly and appropriately to remedy the situation. I'm trusting you to take care of yourself.

Rosemary: What's on your mind?

Snake: Just checking in.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: In recent years, more and more special forces units have started to hold debriefing sessions after missions... Giving team members a chance to talk with each other, which can reduce the risk of developing combat stress.

Snake:(Hmmm...) Debriefings are nothing new. We've always used them to deliver post-action reports.

Rosemary: Those reports are important, too, but I'm talking specifically about using debriefing specifically as a stress management tool.

Snake:(ehh...) They really do all that?

Rosemary: Yeah, they do. Let me give you an example of how to conduct a debriefing. First, everybody sits in a circle and goes over the rules. That is, they agree that anything discussed does not go beyond that room. Then they take turns and tell the others about what happened to them after the mission. It doesn't matter who goes first.

Snake:(uhhh...)

Rosemary: After that, they describe the first thing they thought of at the time - relate how they felt and reacted. The realizations they come to during that process help them rearrange their thoughts, and at the end they go over their feelings once again.

Snake: Adorable.

Rosemary: Sharing each other's experiences like this and having others understand where you're coming from helps relieve stress.

Rosemary: Rose here. How's it going?

Snake: Super.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: There's actually a term for these debriefings where everybody gets together and talks after the mission... They're called CISDs - critical incident stress debriefings. CISDs have become popular as a stress management technique among firefighters and others involved in disaster relief. They say being at a disaster site is just like being on a battlefield - the stress you endure is as serious as a soldier's. So the concept of CIS developed at around the same time the term PTSD first began to appear. Now military and police organizations are starting to pick up on CISD. It's proving just as effective at dealing with stress among soldiers as it is among firefighters.

Rosemary: Rose here. How's it going?

Snake: Super.

Rosemary: You've lost a large amount of Psyche. You'd better take care of that right away.

Snake: Got it. Rose, don't some types of people get stressed more easily than others?

Rosemary: That's a good point. Go-getters for one, serious types, also. Studies have shown that this type of person is more prone to stress. Lately, they've been doing physiological screenings, through blood tests, to determine which types of people suffer the most psychological stress in combat. The results are used to help determine which units soldiers should be assigned to. In a way, it's just another kind of threat management.

Snake: You can tell that much from blood?

Rosemary: Well, I wouldn't stake my reputation on it, but you could say there's kind of a trend. Some experts even claim that some genes may make people more susceptible to fear.

Snake:(Hmmm...) Kind of a flip side to soldier genes.

Rosemary: Right. Soldier genes...

Rosemary: Need something?

Snake: What's up, doc?

Rosemary: You'll be putting yourself at risk if you lose any more Psyche. Take any steps necessary to recover it.

Snake: Will do. Rose, how do I keep my Psyche from going down? Isn't there some way to develop resistance to stress?

Rosemary: Well, there are many types of training that involve extremely high levels of stress, like escape and evasion or Ranger training. But what you need is to focus on managing the stress as it accumulates. It's not healthy to let it build up inside. No matter how big the cup, keep pouring water into it, and eventually it's going to overflow. Snake, you have to dump some of that water out once in a while. Here's what you need to know: the best way for us to confront combat stress is not to train ourselves to resist it, but to train ourselves to recognize internalized stress early on and release it.

Snake: Recognize it... (hmm)

Rosemary: In your case, you can assess your stress level by looking at your Psyche Gauge. Always keep an eye on it.

Rosemary: Yes, Snake?

Snake: Just here for my check-up.

Rosemary: You've lost a large amount of Psyche. You'd better take care of that right away.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: Are you familiar with the term catharsis?

Snake: Catharsis? Sure.

Rosemary: It comes from a Greek word meaning "cleansing." When we remember a traumatic past experience, it causes us to feel afraid, distressed, and insecure, and we tend to suppress those feelings. Allowing ourselves to express those pent-up emotions removes that burden and relieves our psychological tensions. It's called catharsis. We experience catharsis in our daily lives in many different ways... By telling others how we feel, or by painting a picture, watching sports, going on a trip, or even yelling at the top of our lungs. Snake, if you ever feel like a past experience is making you feel uncomfortable, talk to me about it. It could help you experience catharsis.

Snake: I'll (uhh) keep it in mind.

Rosemary: Need something?

Snake: What's up, doc?

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: The process we use to prevent or relieve stress is called coping. There are two basic types - problem-focused and emotion-focused. The first type targets the stress factors themselves, while the second works to alleviate the suffering caused by that stress. Going back to what I said earlier, changing your environment by getting to a place where you can relax is problem-focused coping... While changing your mood by eating and resting is emotion-focused coping. Choosing the right coping technique for the right situation can save your life. I can help you with that, if you'll let me.

Snake: All right.

Rosemary: Oh, hi, Snake!

Snake: Rose.

Rosemary: You've lost a large amount of Psyche. You'd better take care of that right away.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: In psychology, mental and emotional wounds are known as trauma. Of course, in your line of work you use the word "trauma" a little differently.

Snake: Yeah, like trauma pads... Body armor woven from high-tensile fibers can stop bullets and shrapnel from penetrating, but in the end it's no more than a piece of cloth. It does nothing to stop the bullet's kinetic energy from being transferred to the wearer's soft tissue. You're lucky if [you] get off with just bruises. More than likely you're left with a few fractures...broken bones. That's why you wear trauma pads - to absorb the shock so it does as little damage as possible. They make all kinds of them. Some have steel plates designed to diffuse the shock of impact over a wide area. Others use shock-absorbing gels to convert kinetic energy into heat.

Rosemary: That's all well and good if you're only worried about your body, Snake, but so far nobody's invented armor against psychological trauma. That's where I come in. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to give me a call.

Rosemary: Hi, this is Rose.

Snake: I need an update on my Psyche.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: Are you familiar with the effects of relaxation?

Snake: As much as anyone else. I like to have a good time.

Rosemary: In a state of relaxation, muscle tension is released, breathing and pulse become slower, and blood pressure is kept at reasonable levels. Brain activity also becomes calmer, inhibiting anxiety and depression. It helps you settle down and reduces the amount of stress you're feeling.

Snake:(hmmm...) I could use some of that. It's hard to get anything done when you're flustered.

Rosemary: The simplest method of relaxation is muscle relaxation. Muscle relaxation involves tensing up a certain muscle and then releasing it to get it accustomed to feeling limp. As you repeat the process of tensing and releasing, the shift to the limp state - that is, the relaxed state - gradually becomes more natural. The usual method is to start with your arm and face muscles, then move down through your chest and abdomen, and finish with your legs. Tension can really build up in both body and mind on these long missions. I'd seriously consider taking a break and using relaxation techniques at least once every hour.

Snake:(hm) Thanks for the tip.

Rosemary: Hello, Snake.

Snake: What do you have for me, Rose?

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: One technique you can use to relax is autogenic training, which employs self-suggestion.

Snake: What?

Rosemary: It's a behavioral therapy in which you regulate both mind and body by changing their respective states. You assume a relaxed position and think of a formula that expresses your body's sense of weight and temperature. You then chant this formula in your mind until your body feels as if as if it's actually experiencing that state. Once you've mastered one formula, you move on to the next. In repeating the process, your body gradually transitions to the state expressed in the formula, and eventually you learn to regulate body and mind.

Snake:(ahhh...) I've heard something like that before. A guy from the New Zealand SAS told me about it. When it's cold outside but too dangerous to build a fire, they took a picture of a fire instead. Said it made their bodies feel warmer.

Rosemary:(chuckles) Well, it's just another form of self-suggestion. If you think something hard enough, you can produce actual physiological changes in your body. They may have came up with that technique themselves through experience, but I suspect they had a little help from a psychologist.

Snake: Kind of like you?

Rosemary: Yeah, kind of like me.

Rosemary: This is Rose. How can I help?

Snake: I need a Psyche check.

Rosemary: You'll be putting yourself at risk if you lose any more Psyche. Take any steps necessary to recover it.

Snake: Will do.

Rosemary: We counselors often talk about stress assessments. I understand you soldiers have your own type of assessment - threat assessment.

Snake: Right. An accurate evaluation of your opponent before you take action.

Rosemary: That makes sense. Incorporating enemy psychology into your threat assessment and management enables you to locate, evade, and engage the enemy more efficiently. Not only does it give you an advantage, it helps you seize the initiative on the battlefield as a whole. For someone in your situation, it's absolutely essential to remain sensitive to the enemy's psychological state - to their emotions.

Rosemary: Hi, this is Rose.

Snake: I need an update on my Psyche.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: So this Solid Eye, it can detect and inform you of what emotions people are feeling? Dr. Emmerich told me all about it. The muscle groups in our faces move in specific patterns depending on the emotion being experienced. There's been a lot of research done on this, and the theory is being applied by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Dr. Emmerich tells me the Solid Eye uses LIDAR to scan the target's face and pick up subtle muscle movements. And it picks up other physical reactions as well. Like the way blood flows to the legs when we're afraid, or concentrates in the upper body when we get angry. Changes in pulse rate, skin temperature, sweat secretion... It takes in all this information and calculates people's emotions with amazing accuracy.

Snake: No kidding? And here I thought it was all smoke and mirrors.

Rosemary:(giggle) Our emotions have a significant impact on how we act. Knowing how people feel gives you a strategic edge. It must process data in much the same way as the nanomachines in SOP. I have to say, even speaking as a psychologist, your friend has developed quite a reliable system.

Rosemary: Rose here. How's it going?

Snake: Super.

Rosemary: Your Psyche is at an extremely dangerous level. You need to take immediate action to recover it.

Snake: Got it.

Rosemary: The little girl you have with you - Sunny, right?

Snake: Right.

Rosemary: She's got a bit of a stutter, doesn't she?

Snake: Yeah, she's been like that as long as I've known her. Any idea why?

Rosemary: There are a lot of underlying factors, but at the risk of oversimplifying... I think we have to consider the possibility that living in isolation from the outside world is placing her under a lot of stress.

Snake: Stress? Sunny chooses not to go outside. It's what she wants.

Rosemary: It's what she think she wants. Sooner or later, she's going to have to breathe the outside air. She can see the outside through a window, but it's never going to be the same as reaching out and touching the real world.

Snake:(huungh) I know.

Rosemary: Jack rescued Sunny from the Patriots, and you and Dr. Emmerich are taking care of her, but she hasn't been saved yet.

Snake: Look, we're only trying to do what Sunny wants. What do you want me to do?

Rosemary: Let her know she's not alone. The outside world is full of pain and suffering. You need to let Sunny know that you'll always be there for her. She's still just a little girl. Show her some sympathy once in a while. OK?

Snake: Yeah, sure.

Low oxygen levels

Otacon: The low oxygen levels in this high-altitude mountainous area must be having a negative effect on the nanomachines. The PMCs are showing signs of unusually aggressive behavior. Watch your back, Snake.

Helping the rebels

Otacon: The rebel soldiers are in the plaza now, rounding up the prisoners they took in the last battle. Remember how I was telling you the PMCs are getting more and more prone to violence? Well, there's a fair chance this might not turn out so well for those rebels. Normally, I'd advise you to continue on with your objective, but I feel for those guys. Look, if you do decide to do the right thing, you'll have to take down those PMCs. It's your call, Snake.

Rebel armory

Otacon: Looks like the rebels use that building as an armory.

Snake: This place is full of stuff I can use.

Otacon: Before you move on, you should stock up on whatever you need. You've still got a long way to go.

Rebel guns

Otacon: Snake, you know that the men and women in the rebel army were once regular soldiers in the national army. When the current regime seized power, they were either stripped of their ranks or left on their own accord. At any rate, the vast majority were in the army when the old regime implemented the SOP system.

Snake: Hold on. You're saying they got nanomachines in their bodies?

Otacon: Exactly. But when the regime changed, the System expunged their IDs. That's why they can't use ID guns and fight with naked guns instead. On the other hand, it also means the government can't control the rebel's actions through the System. Or you can look at it another way - if you get a weapon from the rebels, there's no need to involve Drebin. You can use it as is.

Otacon: Oh, yeah, I forgot - fluent in six languages. You know, I bet the octopus never saw it coming - someone using its limbs in a wartime advertisement.

Snake: You use what you can. That's what we humans do.

Otacon: Sounds like something a procure-on-site expert would say.

Snake: Is that so, Otacon?

Otacon: I'm kidding! I'm kidding!

Rebel disguise

Otacon: Snake, I see you found yourself a uniform from the old regime's army. It's just like the ones the rebels are wearing.

Snake: Yeah. Just my size, too.

Otacon: The rebels are a heck of a lot less likely to shoot at you if you're wearing that uniform. Don't hesitate to put it on if you're feeling a little naked.

Snake: I'll do that.

Otacon: Of course, you'll have to act the part, too. Don't forget to play nice.

Snake: Don't worry, I'll behave.

Geography skills

Otacon: Snake, the guerrillas you liberated are probably well-versed in local geography. Following in their footsteps might be the fastest way to get where you need to go. Something to consider, anyway.

Sound of birds

Otacon: Do you hear the birds, Snake?

Snake: Yeah. I noticed a change in their song a while back... They're trying to warn other birds about some kind of disturbance. There must be people coming. If they get too close, the birds will stop calling and fly away.

Otacon: Good observation. Birds are nature's greatest security alarms. You should pay attention to how they sing and behave.

Prison camp

Otacon: Snake, that looks like a PMC-run prison camp. It's safe to assume that it's under extremely tight security. Any sign of prisoners?

Snake: Yeah, I saw some guys who fit the bill. Otacon, with security like this, you'd think there'd be an arms locker or something, wouldn't you?

Otacon: Don't tell me you're looking for weapons! Look, if I was in your shoes, I'd be using this opportunity to get the heck out of there.

Snake: But I have to do what's best given the circumstances.

Otacon: I'm not arguing. The decision's yours. Just be careful, that's all.

Supply depot

Otacon: You're now at a supply depot. It's a pretty run-down building, but part of it houses rebel prisoners, so don't expect security to be light.

Armored bulldozer

Otacon: It's an armored bulldozer! They're gonna use it to break down the gate! Snake, that's your ticket inside. Wait for them to bring it down, and then charge on in.

Mansion

Otacon: The lab where they're making Naomi do her research is somewhere inside. First things first: find a way to get inside that mansion. The rebels have pushed their way inside. This is the PMC's last stronghold. They'll stop at nothing to defend it. This battle's only going to get bloodier from here.

Snake: The bloodier, the better - for me, at least.

Otacon: That's only if you make use of the situation. Be ready for anything.

Gedunk bars

Rosemary: Eating replenishes more than just your stamina. It also helps your Psyche Gauge recover. Since ancient times, military commanders have struggled with the problem of how to secure food for their men. How much soldiers get fed - not to mention how well - has a direct effect on morale. Back when wars were fought between absolute monarchies, the maximum distance an army could travel in a day was limited to the distance from one supply point to the next. The quality of the food is a major factor, too. During World War II, American battleships housed vending machines that were stocked with cigarettes, soft drinks, and ice cream. They called them gedunk bars - the phrase is still used by sailors and marines today.

Snake: Ice cream. Tasty.

Rosemary: Apparently they even built special floating ice cream factories capable of producing 5,000 gallons of ice cream an hour to feed soldiers on ships too small to have their own gedunk bars. They even had their choice - soft or hard. Napoleon once said, "An army moves on its belly." He knew what he was talking about.

Snake gives his sympathies to Campbell

Rosemary: What's up, Snake?

Snake: Got an update for me?

Rosemary: There doesn't seem to be any problem with your Psyche. So far so good. Proceed with the mission.

Snake: Got it.

Campbell: Speaking of food, Snake...

Snake: Colonel? We're in the middle of something here.

Campbell: Have you ever eaten rations from a country other than the US?

Snake: Of course I have.

Campbell: The UN recently held a ration swap meet between military attaches from each member state. It was a momentous development in the cultivation of mutual understanding of other countries' cuisines.

Rosemary: Roy, this isn't really the time...

Campbell: On the contrary. I want you to hear this too, Rose.

Rosemary: I've already heard it a hundred--

Campbell: You'll survive. Anyway, Snake, I did a taste test and found that French rations were generally the best. The Italians' weren't bad, either. And the Japanese stuff was much better than I expected.

Snake: Really. That's wonderful.

Campbell: But everyone seemed to agree that the worst rations of all were ours. America for the win.

Snake: All right... So what's your point?

Campbell: Yep, it must be nice to live in a country that knows how to cook. Those French rations... Delicieux! I wish you would have been there to try some, Snake. And, you too, Rose.

Snake: Colonel, what exactly are you...?

Campbell: Some of the best food I'd ever tasted, Rose.

Rosemary: I'm sorry, Snake. Ever since he went to that swap meet, it's all he can talk about. You'd think he'd never had a decent meal in his life.

Snake: No kidding. Wait a minute. Rose, who does the cooking at your house?

Rosemary: Me. Roy doesn't... What are you getting at?

Snake: Nothing, nevermind. Colonel?

Campbell: Mmm?

Snake: My sympathies.

Campbell: It's appreciated, Snake.

Rosemary: I actually like those American rations!

Power station

Otacon: That's a power station those PMCs are guarding. It's a key piece of infrastructure, so it's bound to be heavily defended. The rebels will surely see it as a high-value target. When those two groups get around to fighting, it's not going to be pretty. You've got a touch choice to make - follow the, or find your own way around.

Destroying the power station

Otacon: Until now the rebels have engaging the PMCs in an effort to capture the power station without damaging it. But looking at the way they've been fighting lately, I'm seeing a slight change in the rebel's strategy. They don't seem as concerned about keeping the facility intact.

Snake: Well, this was originally their land. Even if the infrastructure takes a few hits, as long as they regain control, they can always rebuild later. Right now, their top priority is thinning the PMCs' ranks. At least, that's what it looks like from here.

Otacon: You could be right. They might even be trying to take out the power station now.

Snake: Take it out... Yeah. Render the switchboard inoperative and you'll shut the whole place down.

Otacon: The PMCs are likely expecting that, and will fight tooth and nail to defend the facility. Watch yourself out there.

Snake: Will do.

Laughing Octopus' enhancement suit

Snake: Otacon, doesn't that enhancement suit remind you of anything?

Otacon: You mean those arm-like extensions? I think we've both got a pretty good idea - an offshoot of the battle suit Solidus wore.

Snake: You thinks the BBs are connected to him somehow?

Otacon: I doubt it. But I'll tell you one thing - they're in an entirely different league than the other PMCs. Even at medium range, those arms could deliver a nasty blow. Watch out for them, and keep your distance!

Snake: Will do.

Spherical bombs

Otacon: Those spherical weapons Octopus is throwing - floating bombs, I guess you'd call them. They seem to be custom made. I've never seen anything like them.

Snake: No kidding. They get a bead on me and hone right in. Hard to shake 'em off.

Otacon: I think they're a type of MAV - micro air vehicles. Sort of like a distant cousin of the remote control missile.

Snake: How do I stop them?

Otacon: From what I've seen, there's a time lag between when they latch onto the target and detonation. You can use that lag to your advantage. Shake them off before they detonate. They don't seem too sticky, so rolling on the ground ought to do the trick. Or you could shoot them out of the air before they hit you. You can do it!

The reason for Laughing Octopus' laughter

Rosemary: That beast seems to laugh at everything.

Snake: At this point, no matter what you say to her, she'll only respond one way.

Rosemary: The symptoms resemble those seen in Ganser syndrome... It's a type of dissociative disorder characterized by irrelevant responses to the situation at hand. It often manifests itself in soldiers under extreme battlefield stress.

Snake: You mean she's not having a good time out here?

Rosemary: I doubt it. I'm starting to wonder if she might not have some kind of deep-seated psychological trauma...

Laughing Octopus' trick

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon while Laughing Octopus is impersonating the Metal Gear Mk. II.

Snake: Otacon, what's wrong? Why are you calling me over there?

Otacon: Huh? What are you talking about? I didn't say anything!

Snake: It was you.

Otacon: I'm telling you, I didn't call you. This is no time for jokes. You're supposed to be fighting Octopus! Come on!

Snake: I... Hey, Otacon--!

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon after setting off the mines Laughing Octopus planted.

Snake: Otacon! What the hell were you thinking, sending me over there?

Otacon: Hold on a minute, I didn't tell you to go anywhere!

Snake: Thanks a lot. I just got nailed by a trap. Are you trying to get me killed?

Otacon: Now, now wait a second, Snake!

Laughing Beauty

To elicit the following responses, contact Otacon or Rosemary during the battle with Laughing Beauty.

Otacon: From the looks of it, she's unarmed. And yet she's coming closer! I don't know what she's up to, but watch out, Snake!

Otacon: Snake, don't let her get too close! Keep your distance!

Rosemary: Watch out for her when she comes at you, Snake!
She's deadly at close range, just like those enhanced soldiers.

To elicit the following responses, contact Otacon or Rosemary after being harmed by Laughing Beauty.

Otacon: When she hugs you, you take damage. Don't get too close, Snake. Stay away from her!

Scouting

Otacon: Snake, you remember what Raiden was saying about scouting? Well, I did a little research of my own. The scouting he was talking about has a slightly different nuance than the reconnaissance scouting commonly referred to in the military.

Snake: Makes sense. I kind of got that feeling from the way he was talking.

Otacon: The word scout as he used it originally referred to Native American warriors. I, on the other hand, prefer to see the concept as being rooted in their attitudes toward nature. To know nature, study it, fear it, love it - to be one with it. As I understand it, the true essence of scouting lies in that way of life. The basis of scouting is awareness. Take, for example, a hunter tracking an animal. The hunter is surrounded by clues that tell him about his prey - footprints, bent grass, broken branches, shifts in the air... Things that are out of place. But they only speak to the tracker if he notices them. Some Native Americans tribes have long been able to detect even the most minute details because they develop those senses from early childhood by living in nature. They use all five of their senses, placing great importance on sensing through the skin, and sometimes go shirtless, even in winter. It's said there are many different ways to feel the same wind. These things may seem foreign to you and I, but for them it's a way of life.

PMCs' scout training

To initiate this conversation, approach a FROG while wearing the Solid Eye.

Raiden: Snake, these PMCs have received some degree of scout training. They can detect the low sound of the Solid Eye, even though it's faint.

Snake: So if I'm wearing the Solid Eye and get to close, it'll give away my position.

Raiden: Exactly. Switch it off when approaching the enemy.

Raiden helps Snake

This conversation is initiated if the player has trouble following Naomi's footprints.

Raiden: You have to look at more than just the shape of the footprints. Don't assume you're on the right track just because the print matches the target's shoes. Take a closer look. Imagine the target actually on top of the print. Think. Is the depth of the print consistent with Naomi's weight? Does the stride, straddle, and pitch match her walk? Pay attention. Don't let the hunted fool the hunter.

Explosive trap

To initiate this conversation, approach a pair of women's shoes placed next to a claymore mine.

Otacon: An explosive trap! If you'd triggered it, not only would you have sustained damage, the sound would have put the enemy on alert. Watch your step.

Sound of helicopter rotor

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon when approachin the exit to the heliport.

Otacon: Snake, the MK.II's microphone is picking something up... Sounds like a helicopter rotor. Maybe there's a heliport nearby? I'm pretty sure you've reached the forest's edge, Snake. The exit to the heliport should be close by. Find it.

The results of Liquid Ocelot's test

Rosemary: Those soldiers chasing you - the emotional patterns they're displaying are definitely not normal. Intense anger, fear, sadness - all clear off the charts. What in the world happened to them...?

Eastern Europe

PMC presence

Snake: Otacon, it's like a PMC convention here.

Otacon: It all started six months ago. An American company was planning an oil pipeline, and the current pro-US government approved PMC units to be stationed in the country to provide "security" during construction. This brought tensions between the government and the anti-US opposition to a boiling point. And then a riot - presumably instigated by the opposition - broke out near the US embassy... The PMCs suppressed the riot, placing their government directly into Washington's front pocket. Almost overnight, they opened up this country to a large-scale hunt down of the resistance. And now, the entire transportation network has been shut down, with checkpoints everywhere. That's the official story, anyway.

Snake: .....

Otacon: The riot that the opposition supposedly started? I suspect it was all part of a conspiracy. The units executing the actual operation are part of Liquid's own PMC, and the resistance group they're trying to flush out is led by Big Mama. The resistance also happens to have Big Boss's body in its possession. Seems as though Liquid was the one pulling the strings. He must have incited the riot to frame Big Mama, creating a scenario that allowed him to bring the big guns to recover that body. I doubt politics has anything to do with any of this.

Snake: Sounds like Liquid all right.

Otacon:It does. Now Snake, you know the drill - we need to get to Big Mama before they do.

Snake: My sentiments exactly.

Van

Otacon: Damn it! We've lost the van!

Snake: Yeah. And to top it off, there are some monster crows flying around here. Looks like the tourists have been feeding these guys - they're pretty damn big.

Otacon: We'll just have to head to the rendezvous point and pray that the van is safe.

Rider's high

Rosemary: I don't know much about motorcycles, but its clear Big Mama's amazingly talented with that bike. It's like danger doesn't even register with her. One false move, though, and you're both done for.

Snake: That's part of the thrill.

Rosemary: She may be affected by what's known as "rider's high."

Snake: I've heard of "runner's high."

Rosemary: It's a similar phenomenon. Beta endorphins are secreted inside the brain while you run, creating a feeling of intoxication - in other words, a psychological high.

Snake: Right. I've heard of that.

Rosemary: Some motorcyclists have actually reported experiencing the same sort of sensation. It hasn't yet been confirmed psychologically, but that high could make you oblivious to danger. That may explain why she's driving like nothing can stop her.

Rosemary: In a combat high, your brain overdoses on adrenalin, not endorphins. But don't worry Snake, as far as I can tell, she's got skills. And, she deserves your faith.

Slider

Otacon: Those Sliders will sometimes leave her side and operate independently... Most likely acting as a remote scouting platform. If you see a Slider flying on its own, don't hesitate to shoot it down. That should reduce the Beast's situation awareness and tilt the odds in your favor.

Otacon: Snake, those Sliders are equipped with searchlights. Don't get caught in the beam, or they'll spot you right away!

Vernier

Otacon: Snake, it seems as though the angrier Raven becomes, the shorter her Vernier bursts get. I'm seeing a correlation between the emotion data I'm getting through the Solid Eye and the length of time she uses the Vernier.

Snake: And?

Otacon: Well, after the Vernier fires for a certain period of time, it has to be shut down for a while so it can cool off.

Snake: Like firing a machine gun in bursts to avoid burning out the barrel.

Otacon: Good analogy. Now, this is only a guess, but I'm thinking that Raven tends to lose control of herself when angered. Normally, she'd try to avoid overheating the Vernier, but get her riled up, and she seems to forget all about that.

Snake: I get it. The Vernier keeps getting hotter and hotter...

Otacon: Necessitating longer and more frequent cool-down periods.

Snake: So, the greater her rage, the less she can fly.

Otacon: Exactly! Keep up your attack, but try to provoke her into getting mad - that should give you a fighting chance.

Angering Raven

Otacon: I've been analyzing Raven's emotional data. She seems to get even more enraged when she's attacked or loses a Slider. That fury gradually cools down over time. So keep a steady stream of attacks to sustain that rage. Or shoot down a lot of her Sliders. Either way should do the trick!

Raging Raven

Rosemary: This Beast seems to be seething with rage. Anger causes us to lose self-control, making it the most-dangerous emotion of all. This makes her extremely dangerous, Snake. Be careful.

Using Raven's emotions against her

Rosemary: Snake, I think Dr. Emmerich is on to something. That Beast is prone to losing her self control when she gets angry. Fan the flames of her fury - that should give you an edge in this battle. Use that Beast's emotions against her!

Shadow Moses

Unmanned machines

Otacon: Big Boss's body has fallen into Liquid's clutches. We can't let him get his hands on REX, too. We have to get to the underground escape route where REX is stored before they do. I'm setting your radar to point towards the target. Check it if you need to get your bearings. Shadow Moses is an uninhabited ruin now. There aren't any human soldiers stationed here, but I am picking up unmanned machines. Judging by their signature, they're probably a part of Liquid's army. I know you're getting pretty used to fighting them by now, but don't let your guard down.

Tank hangar

Otacon: Look, there's the tank hangar. It sure brings back memories, doesn't it? I know it's all ancient history by now, but do you remember how you snuck into the hanger [sic] last time? I seem to remember the front hangar door being shut back then because of a blizzard just like this one.

Snake: Yeah, there's two ducts that lead inside, an upper and a lower one. I picked one and used it to sneak in.

Otacon: Well, now you've got three ways to get in. Lucky you!

Gekko

Otacon: The Gekko appeared to be designed for high mobility - even in cramped urban environments like this one.

Snake: Yeah, you're telling me.

Otacon: Their legs' main drive uses artificial muscle tissue genetically engineered from the cloned ES cells of ungulate embryos. This gives them quick respose times and a high output-to-weight ratio. Basically, the Gekko have the legs of a star athlete - that's what makes them so agile. But it's also their weak point. Those things may have an amazingly high output, but they're also deployed in limited indoor search-and-destroy operations. So there's a limit to how heavy they can make the frames. Otherwise, they'd drop right through the floor. To keep its weight down, the Gekko's defensive armor is concentrated on the head, where the central computer is housed. The legs aren't defenseless, but by comparion, they're a pretty soft target. In other words...

Snake: Targeting their legs should at least slow them down, right?

Otacon: Exactly! Keep it in mind - it could save your life.

Heliport

Otacon: It looks like they haven't deployed any security at the heliport. But that doesn't mean there won't be any later on. Stay alert.

Best course of action

Otacon: Keep going north and enter the tank hangar. I'll let you decide the best COA (course of action).

Furry friends

(To listen to this conversation, contact Otacon while traveling through the duct. Snake's "furry friends" refers to the fact that Snake had help from a pack of rats when traversing through the lower ducts of the tank hangar, during the Shadow Moses Incident.)

Otacon: Taking the duct, eh? Still remember where the exit is?

Snake: Yeah, I'll be fine. Way I remember it, these ducts aren't that complicated. And my old friends are still here to show me the way. I won't get lost.

Dwarf Gekko

Otacon: Ah, the little three-legged - well, three-armed machine. Actually, I was in touch with Nastasha just recently. She told me about a rumor making its way around the military analyst community.

Snake: Nastasha Romanenko... And?

Otacon: Gekko are being deployed in more and more urban counterterrorism operations. In the process, they've encountered a number of problems. One of them is size and weight. Compared to other types of armored weapons, Gekko are relatively small and light, but they're still a bit too big to be effective in indoor search and combat operations. So the manufacturer, AT Corp, developed a new, smaller UGV based on the Gekko archetype for just that kind of mission. And the latest word is they're about to start field testing.

Snake: And that's what these things are?

Otacon: More than likely. That's all the information I have. The very existence of these things is still top secret.

Snake: Pint-sized Gekko, huh? Dwarf Gekko...

Otacon: I doubt they're heavily armed, but remember these things are designed to support Gekko during indoor combat. Best to assume they're capable of some form of attack.

Snake: Maybe so, but they're still just machines.

Otacon: True, but that doesn't mean you can take them lightly. Be careful, Snake.

Tank hangar memories part 1

Otacon: Snake, what are you doing in there?Snake: Just reminiscing. Last time I was here there was this nice stash of weapons and items.Otacon: Who knows, maybe you'll find something in there again?Snake: Maybe.Otacon: OK. Just remember we need to get a move on.Snake: Right. I'll be done here in a sec.

Tank hangar memories part 2

Otacon: Snake, it's good to see you're getting back to the basics of on site procurement, but we've got a job to do! We have to get to REX. Wrap it up and head for the underground escape route.

Snake's the shit!

(Call Otacon when you arrive at the door to the Weapon Storage building)

Otacon: Hey Snake, something I've been meaning to ask you. That canyon... Isn't that where you demolished Raven's tank? How'd you do it, anyway?

Snake: How? Well... Grenades.

Otacon: That's it? You didn't use an anti-tank missile or something?

Snake: Didn't have one.

Otacon: You're technique is kind of - how to put this - archaic when it comes to fighting tanks. Honestly, I don't think it'd work on today's main battle tanks.

Snake: Well, that's how I did it. What do you want me to say?

Otacon: You know, I asked an active-duty Army officer once - if an infantryman had to take on a tank one-on-one, how should he do it?

Snake: And what was his answer?

Otacon: "Don't." He swore there's no way in hell a single infantryman could take down a tank by himself.

Snake: Interesting.

Otacon: I always suspected there was a little something crazy about you, Snake. But hearing that story... Now I know it. You're nuts! Single-handedly taking out a tank? That's crazy! You're insane!

Snake: Otacon, is this your idea of a compliment?

Otacon: Yes! You're the toughest, craziest, most hardcore badass on the planet. You're... the shit!

Switchboard

(Otacon calls Snake automatically while in the Western laboratory)

Otacon: Everything looks exactly like I remember it. Except for that wall way in back, anyway. I still can't believe how much damage you caused in such a small space.

Snake: The switchboard - nailed it with a remote-control missile to shut down the electric current in the floor. The guidance system in those things takes up so much space it hardly leaves any room for explosives.

Otacon: Didn't make much of a bang, huh?

Snake: Hardly. Switchboard's still intact.

Otacon: You're right. The wiring past the switch circuits could still be live.

Snake: Wait a minute... I'm not going to get shocked if I walk on this floor, am I?

Otacon: No need to worry. As long as you don't turn the current back on.

Jelly bean memories

(Otacon automatically calls Snake while in the Western laboratory.)

Otacon: This brings back memories. My colleagues and I used to work in these cubicles. We were all brilliant engineers - the best of the best. And we were close, too. Like family. We used to play pranks on each other all the time. Like on this one girl's birthday, we stuffed her cubicle completely full of balloons. Or this one guy when he got married - when he came back from his honeymoon, he found his workstation had been hollowed out and its guts replaced with jellybeans! (heheheheheh!)Snake:(uh...) Sounds...little like a blast.Otacon: It was! But, all that time, my colleagues and I, we were building REX. Here we are, messing around in our cubicles all day like giddy grad students, and what do we end up with? A weapon of mass destruction. Not exactly the sort of thing to look back on and laugh, is it?Snake: You obsess over the past too much. It's a bad habit. Come on, I need directions here. That's your job, right? To support me?Otacon: Yeah, you're right. You can count on me. We're partners, after all.Snake: Good to have you with me, partner.Otacon: It's good to be here, Snake.

Warhead removal

(Call Otacon after you arrive in the warhead storage building.)

Otacon: I believe the warheads have been removed from those nuclear missiles. The amount of ionizing radiation the Mk.III's Geiger counter is detecting is significantly lower than what we'd see if there were actual warheads present. Which means, obviously, that you can use heavy weapons without having to worry about igniting leaking radioactive material and causing a nuclear holocaust.

Snake: Nice.

Sea of blood

(To unlock this conversation, go through the hallway where Gray Fox slaughtered the soldiers that were guarding Otacon's lab.)

Otacon: I remember this place. After you beat the Cyborg Ninja, I came out into the hallway and all I saw was a sea of blood. The air was filled with this sickly sweet smell... I remember thinking, "this must be what hell is like." My mind couldn't even process what I was seeing at first. Anyways... Keep following that hallway to the north and you'll reach my lab.

Dead Gekko?

(To activate this conversation, you need to call Otacon when you are near the "downed" Gekko. Be absolutely certain that you don't wake the Gekko before you call.)

Otacon: That Gekko looks as though its drive has gone completely dead. I wonder if it is some sort of mechanical problem... Nevermind that, Snake. No time for dead lizards. Keep moving.

Gekko's hibernation mode

(Call Otacon after you awaken the Gekko)

Otacon: Whoa, what the hell was that? That Gekko must have been in hibernation mode or something. One minute it looks dead, and then... Bam!

Snake: Tell me about it. I think I almost had a heart attack.

Otacon: Seriously, though, who'd have known Gekko had that kind of operational mode?

Snake: Whoever made 'em must've been a real bastard.

Otacon: From now on, you'd better keep both eyes on those Gekko. You don't want to get fooled like that again.

Snake: No disagreement here.

Whiteout

Otacon: This snow just won't quit, will it? Can't see a thing in this whiteout. Visibility is practically zero. You need to be especially vigilant for enemy patrols. Make good use of your OctoCamo to help you get through.

The electric floor

(Otacon automatically calls Snake while in the Western laboratory during the Gekko ambush if Snake didn't enter it previously.)

Otacon: Remember when we first met? I hate to bring back painful memories, but remember how you got shocked in this hallway before you first came to my office?

Snake: Yeah, blew me halfway across the room. Come to think of it, why have a high-voltage current running through the floor in a research facility? Isn't that... Dangerous?

Otacon: Well, it wasn't there at first, obviously. They installed it when Liquid took the place over.

Snake: To keep you from escaping... So you'd have to finish REX.

Otacon: Exactly. Say, didn't you destroy the switchboard to the current?

Snake: With a remote controlled missile, yeah.

Otacon: Well, I just checked it out over the LAN, and it looks like those circuits are still getting power...

Snake: What? That would mean...

Otacon: Maybe you could use the MK.III to turn the current in the floor on again. The Gekko probably have decent surge protection on their electronic components, but a good, long high-voltage bath just might fry their organic parts. Go ahead and send the MK.III over to the switchboard. It's worth a shot.

Gekko ambush

Otacon: The Mk.III has to stay near the door until I've opened it, and it can't use stealth camo. It's only a matter of time before the Gekko find it.

Snake: No stealth? So what? I thought it didn't work on the Gekko anyway.

Otacon: It's true - stealth doesn't do much against the Gekko's sensor suite. But it's better than nothing. Compared to full visibility, the probability of detection is slightly lower.

Snake: So if it's even a little bit better being invisible than not, why turn off the stealth?

Otacon: Why? Because I have to use the Mk.III's manipulator to open the door, that's why.

Snake: I don't get it.

Otacon: Once the Mk.III activates its stealth camo, the entire machine becomes transparent, including the manipulator.

Snake: Yeah... So?

Otacon: (sigh) How easy do you think it would be for you to eat a meal, clean your gun, if you couldn't see your own hands?

Snake: I got it.

Otacon: Look, Snake, it doesn't take a genius to figure out the Mk.III's not gonna survive a run in with those Gekko. Don't let the get close to it until I've opened the door.

Snake: Ok, no problem. I'm on it.

Gekko's weak point

Otacon: Look at the Gekko - See the milliwave radar antenna up top? And the intercepting shot launcher on the upper part of its leg? That's the active defense system. Knock out the sensor, and you should be able to disable it. Aim for the antenna.

Hind D memories

(To unlock this conversation, simply call Otacon on top of one of the communication towers)

Otacon: That reminds me, Snake. When you fought Liquid's Hind D on the comm tower... There was a nasty blizzard back then, too.

Snake: That was a tough scrape.

Otacon: But you still managed to shoot down his gunship. Up until then, I'd heard that even with a MANPADS, going one on one against an attack chopper was an act of suicide. I thought only Hollywood action stars did that kind of thing. But you made it look easy.

Snake: I just told you it wasn't that easy.

Otacon: Really? But you were all like, "Oh, I had to take out that helicopter." Real cool. Like... like it was nothing.

Snake: All right, enough chit-chat. Let's get going. We've got a long way to go to REX's hangar.

Otacon: Yeah, you're right, Snake.

Crying Wolf's sense of smell

Snake: Otacon! She seems to know exactly where I am even in this damn whiteout. What the hell is going on?

Otacon: Infrared, maybe...? No, you're wearing OctoCamo, it wouldn't be able to read you. Snake, do you see a pattern in her attacks? Anything that gives you a hint?

Snake: Right, now that I think about it - her attacks have been coming from downwind.

Otacon: Which means...

Snake: Damn! She can smell me.

Otacon: Amazing! Tracking you in this wind - just by your scent?

Snake: A Saint Bernard can find and rescue a lost hiker in the middle of a blizzard in the Alps. If that Beast has an olfactory sensor as keen as a dog's, it's not out of the question.

Otacon: Then what do we do? OctoCamo doesn't do anything to mask your scent.

Snake: All I can do is try and guess where that thing's going to be - try not to move downwind.

Otacon: Can you do it?

Snake: Either I do, or I don't.

Otacon: Ok, then. Good luck, Snake.

Crying Wolf's rail gun

Snake: Damn it, Otacon! It's mowing those trees down in one shot! What the hell is that Beast using?

Otacon: All that power... But still small enough for the Beast to carry. And that noise it makes when it charges... Snake, do you remember the weapon Fortune had?

Snake: A rail gun... We come here to keep them from stealing a rail gun, and here they are using one against us!

Otacon: I don't want to be conspiratorial, but it seems like something's behind this. Maybe it's just fate? Nevermind, you've got to tame that beast!

Snake: You're, [sic] right, Otacon. Let's do this.

Enhanced Soldiers' coordination

Otacon: When the rail gun begins to charge, the enhanced soldiers in its line of fire all simultaneously lower their posture.

Snake: It's either a maneuver designed to minimize friendly fire, or to draw my attention away from Wolf - to protect her...

Otacon: Whatever the case, they do seem to be highly coordinated.

Snake: Thanks to the SOP system, no doubt.

Otacon: Don't underestimate them, Snake.

Crying Wolf

Rosemary: The Beast is crying... In psychology, crying is thought of as a way to freely express and release feelings.

Snake: Kind of like catharsis...

Rosemary: Bingo. That Beast cries and cries without stopping. There must be some intense sadness in her, the stress of which is tormenting her mentally and physically. Crying is the only way she can deal with it.

Wolf dogs

To initiate this conversation, contact Otacon from the snowfield, after defeating Crying Wolf.

Otacon: Hear that, Snake?

Snake: Yeah. The wolf dogs.

Otacon: Her family... It must be tough for them in this environment with all the people gone...

Snake: Wolf dogs aren't like other dogs. They're closer to wolves in nature - happier living in the wild than being kept as pets. Even more so now that they're guarding the grave of a loved one.

Otacon: You sure about that?

Snake: Trust me. I used to live with dogs just like these. I know what I'm talking about.

Otacon: Ok. If you say so.

The BB's stories

To initiate this conversation, contact Rosemary after defeating Crying Beauty at the Communication Towers and Snowfield.

Rosemary: I was listening to the BB's stories, too.
It's heartbreaking...

Snake: Those things happen every day on the battlefield - they're never easy to hear.

Rosemary: They've suffered such unimaginable trauma.
Hearing the cries of phantom infants in your head, facing flashbacks of uncontrollable rage...
These are textbook clinical cases for us counselors.

Snake: PTSD, right?

Rosemary: Absolutely. I can't believe anybody would coerce them into entering battle in their state...

Snake: Just goes to show how much faith Liquid has in their combat abilities...

Rosemary: That's no excuse! No CSP member - no one with even a shred of conscience, for that matter - would ever treat another human being like that.

Snake: Conscience? Liquid? Listen, lady...

Rosemary: It's more than just a matter of conscience. Without the proper treatment, their symptoms will worsen, eventually leaving them unfit for combat entirely.
And that can't be good for their commanding officer...

Snake: Maybe not, but it suits me just fine.

Rosemary: Snake!

Snake: Look, maybe it seems callous to you, but that's how things are out here - we're talking about survival.

Rosemary: Well, yes, but...

Snake: I know what you're trying to say.
And your hearts in the right place.

Rosemary: Yeah, maybe you're right. I'm sorry I lashed out like that.

Snake: Forget about it.

Rosemary: Snake, there's only one of those things left.
Stay focused. The end is in sight.

Snake: I'll be careful.

Rosemary's psychological review

(Note: to get this conversation, you need to shoot a wolf and then call Rosemary.)

Rosemary: Snake, a link between cruelty to animals and antisocial, criminal behavior was established a long time ago. If you keep killing animals for no reason, we will be forced to conduct a thorough psychological review upon your return.

Disc nostalgia

(This conversation is automatically heard when Snake is about to enter the Blast Furnace)

Otacon: Hold it Snake. Time to change the disc. I know, I know ... it's a pain. But you need to swap disc 1 for disc 2. You see the disc labeled "2"?

Otacon: Yeah, what an age we live in, huh, Snake? Wonder what they'll think of next!

Rolling facility

Otacon: The rolling facility is a long, narrow space that stretches south to north. The southern half houses the rollers, while the northern half is used to cool the finished steel sheets. The drainage duct lies beyond that. Head for that drainage duct.

Vamp's interference

Otacon: Careful, Snake. This place is crawling with Gekko and Dwarf Gekko.

Snake: It must have been Vamp who sealed the blast furnace door.

Otacon: How do you figure?

Snake: No one ever comes down here, and yet there's Gekko everywhere. He must've figured if I couldn't get the door open, I'd come down here. That freak set up a kill zone... Just for me.

Otacon: Figures... Snake, don't let him get to you. You've got to get through there alive.

Lift

Otacon: Snake, I went ahead and remotely sent the lift used to bring REX up to the supply tunnel. So then... All aboard!

Vamp's nanomachines

Snake: What does it take to kill this guy? I've done enough damage to finish him, and he's just bouncing back!

Otacon: That's it! Remember what Naomi said after Raiden fought him in South America? The nanomachines in his body are helping him heal at an accelerated rate.

Snake: Damn! So conventional attacks won't do any good?

Otacon: I don't know... But for now, just give him everything you've got!.

Conventional attacks aren't enough

Otacon: Damn it! It looks like conventional attacks won't be enough after all.

Snake: If only we had a bomb - turn him into a cloud of pink smoke.

Otacon: Snake, there's only one option let - find some way to stop his nanomachines from working. It could be the silver bullet we're looking for.

Syringe

Otacon: It ought to work on the nanomachines in Vamp's body, too - stop his Life from recovering so fast. Use Naomi's syringe to pump him full of the drugs!

Suicide Gekko

Otacon: You've got to buy some time until my check of REX is complete! These Gekko are rigged to blow themselves up. You need to destroy the frame completely with a powerful weapon before they finish their self-destruct sequence! Snake, that rail gun Wolf was using...

Snake: Yeah, it's serviceable.

Otacon: Good. That should give you more than enough power. Use it to shoot the Gekko!

Metal Gear RAY

Otacon: I hate to say it, but I think Liquid's got the advantage when it comes to piloting Metal Gear. After all, he's had RAY in his hands for quite some time now. But not to worry! I was REX's lead designer, and I'm here to support you. I've installed an emulator of REX's CPU and DSP on Gaudi. We'll run it in parallel with REX's processors to enable distributed processing of control tasks. It'll give us a big boost in throughput, which should make REX as fast and agile as RAY.

Snake:(well) I have no idea what that means, but it sounds good to me.

Otacon: It's OK, Snake. I know you can win this!

Snake: Thanks, Otacon.

REX's secret to defeating RAY

Otacon: Do me a favor, Snake. Get as close to RAY as you can.

Snake: Get closer? What the hell for?

Otacon: I created a special program back when I was designing REX. I thought it might come in handy here.

Snake: What kind of program?

Otacon: REX is armed with powerful self-defense systems - missiles, laser - designed to protect it during solo ops overseas. But some of us engineers were worried about what would happen if it found itself in a close-range shootout. We got to thinking... Why not use REX's tough shell as a weapon in itself? In other words, why not make it into a street fighter? The program was completed and we got fantastic results on a supercomputer simulation, but the project was shelved before we could make our pitch. Didn't fit in with military regulations. But...

Snake: But?

Otacon: I, (uh) went ahead and installed the program anyway. You know... Secretly.

Snake: Seriously?

Otacon: I just rechecked the program on Gaudi's simulator. (and) As far as I can tell, it should work just fine!

Snake: Ok, just tell me how to use it.

Otacon: The project is still in alpha, so its low on flexibility and only gives results in specific cases. I'll give you a signal when the conditions are right to activate it. When you see the signal, just press the Action Button and RAY won't even know what hit it. But first you have to get close to RAY.

Snake: Let's do it.

Otacon: All right, that's what I like to hear!

Outer Haven

Catapult malfunction

Otacon: Snake, the catapult malfunctioned when it launched Meryl. She landed some distance away from you.

Snake: And Akiba ended up in the drink.

Otacon: There's no time to rendezvous with them. You'll each have to make your own way to the server room. I'll be following you with the Mk.III. I can't be there to watch your back in person, but I'm with you all the way. Good luck, Snake!

Status report

Snake: How's it going over there, Otacon?

Otacon: The soldiers above decks are having a shootout with the enemy on your end. It's a total war zone.

Snake: You going to be OK?

Otacon: For now, at least. The Missouri's protected by some pretty thick armor.

Snake: Good. Sounds like everything's under control. But don't count on it lasting. If things get bad, abandon ship. Got it?

Otacon: Yeah, I know. Same goes for you, too, Snake. Don't end up like Admiral Nelson.

Snake: Don't worry. I'm not ready to hang it up yet. Not until I finish this mission.

Otacon: That's the spirit, Snake.

Haven Troopers

Otacon: Liquid had dispatched armor-enhanced troops from his personal army to that area. You do not want to get surrounded by them. Make sure they don't see you, or - if you do engage - try and take them out one at a time.

Won't work this time: Part 1

(To get this conversation, contact Rosemary during the Screaming Mantis fight)

Roy Campbell: That's right. Back then, we defeated him by using multiple controller ports to counteract his mind-reading powers. Snake, try using the same tactic again. Plug the controller into controller port two...

Rosemary: It's not going to work, Roy.

Roy Campbell: Huh?

Rosemary: Do you see any controller ports here? Deceiving Mantis is going to take more than simply pushing the PS button to switch controller numbers...

Roy Campbell: But, then... that means...

Rosemary: It's impossible. Sorry.

Roy Campbell: Well, I'll be damned...

Won't work this time: Part 2

(To get this conversation, contact Rosemary again.)

Roy Campbell: Well, so much for the controller. But that Beast has another weak spot. Do you remember what it is?

Snake: Weak spot? You mean the bust modeled on Mantis's true face? The one with the leather bands wrapped around it?

Won't work this time: Part 3

(To get this conversation, switch the controller to any number other than 1. The Codec call starts automatically.)

Snake: Otacon, what's going on? I can't move!

Otacon: You can't move? What the heck did you... Oh, Snake, did you set the controller number to something other than 1?

Snake: ...

Otacon: Let me guess - you thought back to your battle with Psycho Mantis and figured that the same tactic would actually work again, right?

Snake: Well, I...

Otacon: Nice try, Snake. But this time the controller number has to be 1, or else you can't control your actions.

Snake: What the hell?! Whose dumb idea was that?

Otacon: Don't look at me! I'm sorry, but it's simply not going to work this time around.

Snake: Fine!

Screaming Mantis' ability

Otacon: Snake, remember how Psycho Mantis controlled Meryl using telepathy? Well, I'm thinking this thing does it by manipulating the nanomachines inside a target's body, forcing them to secrete opioids and sending them into hypoesthesia. In other words, she puts them into a sleepwalking state and controls their muscle systems directly.

Snake: What is that ghost-looking thing, anyway?

Otacon: My guess? A hologram - meant to intimidate people. Having some freaky thing like that suddenly pop up in front of you is enough to make anybody jump.

Snake: Like how Special Forces dress all in black when they go on a raid...

Otacon: The control signal for the nanomachines must be embedded in the laser used to create the hologram. That's probably why Mantis can't control you unless you touch it.

Otacon: Same concept. Didn't you ever do that experiment in high school where you attach electrodes to a dead frog's leg to make it twitch? The nanomachines are capable of storing an electric charge. It's entirely possible that Mantis is using that electricity to make muscles contract. If she really is controlling people through their nanomachines, you know a way to counter that, right? Give it a try.

Conventional attacks won't work

Otacon:' It looks like conventional attacks won't even scratch Mantis.

Snake: Really? I hadn't noticed. Any ideas?

Otacon: Sorry, nothing I can think of right now. There must be some way though...

Using the puppets

Otacon: I've got an idea. What if you used those puppets to turn the tables on the Beast - control her instead?

Snake: Use the puppets?

Otacon: It's worth a try, at least. First select one in the item window. Then press the Attack Button to shoot out a ghost just like a weapon. If the ghost hits its target, it's show time! Got all that, Snake? Go on, take her for a spin.

Nanomachines

Otacon: When the Beast's victims take damage or get knocked out, it looks like they're temporarily freed from its control. Maybe because the shock of the attack creates a disturbance in the nanomachine interface...? But then knocking them out wouldn't, or would it? Well, anyway, whatever the reason, it's something that can work to your advantage. Don't hesistate to use it. Just don't get carried away and kill any of your comrades, OK? If you can knock them out or put them to sleep, all the better.

Screaming Mantis

Rosemary: The women of the BB Corps... One laughed, one raged, and one cried. And now the final Beast, who won't stop screaming. That wailing may be the product of some unendurable fear that's gnawing away inside of her. I can't even imagine what kind of trauma would cause a person to scream like that...

Screaming Beauty

Otacon: Get away from her! If she grabs you, you'll get burned.

Rosemary: Such agony in those screams... You may be tempted to try and save her, but don't let sympathy get the better of you. Remember the others, Snake. She wants to kill you. Don't let her get too close!